THERE SHE IS, THE 1ST MISS AMERICA

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2063

FIRST MISS AMERICA CROWNED 95 YEARS AGO

Atlantic City, New Jersey (JFK+50) Ninety-five years ago today, September 8, 1921, sixteen year old Margaret Gorman* was crowned the first 'Miss America'** here in Atlantic City.

Miss Gorman, the first 'Miss Washington, D.C.,' also held the title of "The Most Beautiful Bathing Girl in America."  

Jessa Schroeder of the New York Daily News writes...

"over 10,000 people crowded the New Jersey boardwalk to see a lineup of beautiful, talented and charismatic women from all over the country compete for the title."

Miss Gorman received the Golden Mermaid Trophy but did not actually receive her crown until the end of the year.  Unlike today, the contestants represented cities instead of states.  They included Miss Camden, Miss Harrisburg, Miss New York City, Miss Newark, Miss Ocean City, Miss Philadelphia and Miss Washington, D.C.

The 2017 edition of the Miss America Pageant will also take place in Atlantic City and will be televised this coming Sunday.

*Margaret Gorman Cahill (1905-1995) was the only Miss America to receive her crown at the end of the year.  She was also the lightest Miss America at 108 pounds until 1949 when Miss Arizona, 106 pounds, won the crown.

MGC married Victor Cahill and lived her entire life in the Nation's Capital. She died at the age of 90.

**The term Miss America was not used in the first pageant.  Margaret Gorman entered in the pageant of 1922 but Miss Washington, D.C. had already been selected so she entered as 'Miss America.'

SOURCE

"Miss America pageant takes place in hometown Atlantic City this week on anniversary of first ever contest winner," by Jessa Schroeder, September 8, 2016, New York Daily News, www.nydailynews.com/

Margaret Gorman

First Miss America (1921)

Contestants 

Florence Burke (Miss Atlantic City)

Nellie Orr (Miss Philadelphia)

Margaret Gorman (Miss Wash DC)

Photo by Herbert A. French

National Photo Company (1921)

Library of Congress Image